Outrigger for cranes or the like



June 10, 1930. G. A. VAUGHN 1,762,705

OUTRIGGER FOR CRANES OR THE LIKE Filed July 5. 1927 2. Sheets-Sheet l WLII-X y i 24 f6 :mia l .D .yy/11, l,

War/765.5,

June 10, 1930. G. A, VAUGHN I 1,762,705

OUTRIGGER FOR CRANES OR THE LI KE Filed July 5, 1927 2 Sl'leeis--Sheeil2 Patented June 10, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFHQE GEORGE A. VAUGHN,OF NEWTON, IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO THE PARSONS COMPANY, OF

' NEWTON, IOWA OUTBIGGER FOR CRANES OR THE LIKE Application filed July5,

My invention has to do with an Outrigger construction forming part of acrane or similar machine for handling heavy loads.

More particularly, it is my object to provide an Outrigger structurehaving parts so constructed and arranged as to be conveniently anchoredto the rails of a track on which the crane travels for anchoring thecrane against tilting, overturning or racking.

' Another purpose is to provide such an equipment by which thesupporting derrick or A frame or the like over which the hoisting lineis drawn may be directly supported on the rail without imposing the loadcarried by the A frame iirst on the main frame ofthe crane and then onthe rail.

It is my object also to provide in such a device a number of novelfeatures in the construction of mounting of the Outrigger clamps.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in theconstruct-ion, arrangement and combination of the various parts of myOutrigger whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinaftermore fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a crane of the boom hoist type equippedwith an out rigger construction embodying my invention. Figure 2 shows avertical, transverse, sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the parts of the Outrigger clampdissasembled.

Figure 4 is an enlarged view in side elevation of one oi the Outriggerclamps and parts of the crane taken from the opposite side of that shownin Figure l; and

Figure 5 is a detail, sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

I have found in the designing of cranes for use on railroad tracks thata relatively light weight crane can be used for doing comparativelyheavy work if proper means are provided for anchoring the crane on therails against tilting and for supporting all or part of the loa-d on therails by the anchoring means employed.

1927. Serial No. 203,311.

In the drawings herewith, I have used the reference character 10 toindicate generally the rails of a trac-k resting on the ties 12.

I have indicated the frame B of a crane, which frame is supported onwheels 14 on the rails 10.

I may say that in the drawings herewith, I have shown the cranestructure generally in somewhat diagrammatic form, because it is myintention to show only enough of the crane to illustrate my presentinvention.

At one end oi the crane, there is supported an A frame A, having theupwardly and forwardly inclined side members 1G supported on the mainframe B and connected together by a cross member 18 at their upper ends.

A boom 20 is pivoted on the frame B adj acent to the lower end of the Aframe A. The boom 20 is supported in any suitable way for vert-ical,pivotal movement and also for horizontal, swinging movement.

The structure for this mounting is old and in itself forms no part of mypresent invention.

A cable rigging 22 is provided for connecting the outer end of the boomwith the upper end oiI the A frame for supporting the outer end of theboom at different heights.

By this structure, it is obvious, of course, that a part of the loadimposed on the boom is imposed on the A frame, which is rigidly bracedby the braces 24.

I have in mind particularly that condition oi the crane when the boom isswung to extend laterally as shown for instance in Figures 1 and 2.

For instance, as shown in Figure 2, a substantial part of the load willbe imposed upon that member 16 of the A frame on the side ladjacent tothe boom 20, whereas the other lmember 16 will tend to be pulledupwardly.

For rigidly anchoring the crane and especially the A frame to carry partof this load on the A frame and also to hold the crane against tilting,I have provided the Outrigger structure, which I shall now more fullyde` scribe.

The main frame B has the longitudinal, side members 26, which areordinarily in the form of channel bars opening inwardly toward eachother.

The A frame members 16 are supported on the respective channel bars 26.k

On each side of the machine, a .bracket is employedr comprising theplate 28 having lat the journal 36 received between the journals 82 andpivotally connected therewith by nieansof a pin 38 detachably receivedinthe journals 32 and 36.

At the lower end of the arm 34am down- Y wardly projecting` spaced armmembers 40,

having register-ing holes 42, preferably substantially rectangular inoutline to receive the wedge 44. f Extending downwardly fromthe armportions 40 are varm portions 40a inthe form of spaced side platesconnected together` as at 46 at their lower ends and at one side fof thel the rail, it will be noted that fthe crane will vertical aXis ofthearm 34, as-clearly shown in Figure 3. Y

f In the arm members 40at are yregistering elongated holes 48.

The wedgef44 may of the arm members 40' bymeans of a chain 50 to preventloss.

I provide a second clamp vmember indicated generally at D inFigure8,.comprising an upper arm-member 52 having anelongated hole 54therein, land lia-ving formed on its lower end the clamp face 56extending in both directions from the arm 52.

rllie clamp D is provided with two spaced, Y

reinforcing flanges 58 on opposite sides of the lower part 52a oftheAarm 52. rlllie clamp'face 56 extends-across the flanges 58 and the armportion 52a only at the lower par-t thereof.

The flanges 58 project above the clamp face 56 and vare formed at theirupper portions4 with journals 60 registering with each other and withthe hole 62 in the upper part of the .arm portion 52e as illustrated inFigure '3.

' In assembling the clamp members C and D, the upper part ofthe Varmportions 52 is slipped between the arm members 40 with the arm members40EL received between-the journals 6() and the arm member 52u.

A pin 64 shown yin 'Figure 5 is extended through 'the journals 60 andthe hole v62 and the elongated holes 48.

Whenthis has been done, it will be seen thatthe clamp member D yhas someplay on the clamp member C.

be connected withI 'onel away lfrom the downwardly projecting clampshoulder or face 46 connecting the arm members 40a, so as to receivebetween the face 46 and the clamp face 56 the ball 66' of the rail 10.

0n account of the play allowed by reason lofthe fact that the holes -48are elongated, it will be seen that that portion of thek clamp member D,which engages the rail may be vertically adjusted and also laterally-adjusted to some degree'on account of the play of the ,pin 64 in theholes 48.

Vhent-he clamp members have been placed over the rail, :the-wedge 44 isslipped through the holes 42 and 54kv for .drawing the clamp members Dand C tightly into'engagement Y with the rail.

It will Vbe noticed that the clamp face 56 has an inturnedgportion 56aat its lower edge for engaging under the ball of the rail.

The Outrigger on the other side of the crane is clamped to the 'rail inthe same way.

lWhen tlieoutrigger isv'thus clamped to l be anchored against tiltingmovement and also that there is a rigid steady connection ybetween theAvfra-.me andthe frameB-and the rail. ,v f

f-"lhus, when,r as illustrated in Figure2, a heavy load 70 iscarried bytliekboom 20, the down thruston `the A frame member 16 adjacent to theboom will be transmitted direct- .ly to the rail toaconsiderableextent,V instead of being transmitted through the frame B.Similarly7 the uppullfon the -other member 16 will ybe Vtiansiiiitte'dto the opposite rail directly instead of through the frame B.'

lt' will thus be seen Vthat I have provided an Y Outrigger structure,which makes it possible to build a very steady A frame for carryingextremely heavy loads without putting the weight in the frame B thatwould otherwise be necessary, and it is therefore possible to build theentire crane withv less material and at substantially less expense forhandling heavy loads than would otherwise be possible."y K

Changes can be made 'in the details ofthe structure and arrangement ofthe parts of my improved outriggerstructure, and it is my intention tolcover by my claims any modified forms of structure yor use ofvmechanical equivalents, which maybe rea ,sonably included vwithin theirscope.

- I claim as my invention:

'1. Ink alstructur'e of the classdescribedpthe combination of a mainframe mounted ori* wheels adapted to travel on rails, an upright membersupported on said main frame, and an Outrigger comprising a. bracketrigidly connected With said upright member, a clamp member pivoted tosaid bracket, a second clamp member having a loose pivotal connectionWith the iirst clamp member, and means for rigidly connecting the clampmembers.

2. In an Outrigger structure, a bracket, a clamp member pivoted to saidbracket, a second clamp member having a loose pivotal connection withsaid irst clamp member, and

means for rigidly connecting said clamp members together.

3. ln an Outrigger structure, a bracket, a clamp member pivoted thereon,a second clamp member loosely pivoted to said first clamp member forvertical and horizontal adjustment With relation thereto, and means forrigidly fastening the clamp members together.

4. In an Outrigger structure, a clamp member, means for pivotallysupporting said clamp member,k a second clamp member havin a loosepivotal mounting on the first Clamp member, and means for rigidlyconnecting said clamp members together.

5. In an Outrigger structure, a clamp member, means for pivotallysupporting said clamp member, a second clamp member, one of said clampmembers having spaced elongated holes and the other having a ournalmember, a pin extended through said holes and journal member forlooselyT pivoting the clamp members together, said clamp members beingprovided with elongated holes, and a Wedge adapted to be extendedthrough said last-described holes for rigidly securing the clamp memberstogether.

' 6. In a structure of the class described, a iframe mounted on Wheelsadapted to travel on rails, an outrigger device on seid frame comprisinga clamp having relatively adjustable jaw members, and means for rigidlyconnecting the jaw members together for gripping a rail and affording arigid connection between said frame and the rail.

Des Moines, Iowa, J une 2S, 1927.

GEORGE A. VAUGHN.

